Tristan Gray Injury News & Updates

Gray signed a minor-league contract with the Marlins on Friday, Craig Mish of the Miami Herald reports.

It's the first transaction made by new president of baseball operations Peter Bendix. The former Rays executive is familiar with Gray from his time in Tampa Bay, where the 27-year-old went 2-for-5 with a home run during a short stint in the majors. Gray has hit 30-plus home runs each of the last two seasons at the Triple-A level while also striking out at a 31.7 percent rate. He'll presumably receive an invitation to major-league spring training.

Gray elected to become a free agent Monday, Ryan Bass of Bally Sports Sun reports.

Gray will test out free agency rather than accept the Rays' outright assignment. The 27-year-old got his first cup of coffee in the majors in 2023, going 2-for-5 with a home run. He's slugged 30-plus home runs each of the last two seasons at the Triple-A level, although that's also come with a 31.7 percent strikeout rate.

The Rays placed Gray on outright waivers Saturday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Gray appeared in just two games for the Rays in 2023, going 2-for-5 with a home run. He slashed .235/.312/.485 with 30 homers and 98 RBI with Triple-A Durham, and he could draw interest on the waiver wire from teams looking for organizational depth in the infield.

The Rays placed Gray on outright waivers Saturday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Gray appeared in just two games for the Rays in 2023, going 2-for-5 with a home run. He slashed .235/.312/.485 with 30 homers and 98 RBI with Triple-A Durham, and he could draw interest on the waiver wire from teams looking for organizational depth in the infield.

Gray was optioned to Triple-A Durham on Monday, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports.

Gray had two hits -- including his first home run -- in his major-league debut Sunday in Baltimore, but that won't prevent a return trip to Durham. He's no longer needed on the active roster with Taylor Walls back from paternity leave.

Gray went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's loss to the Orioles.

Making the start at shortstop following his call-up Saturday, Gray picked up his first big-league hit in the fifth inning before launching his first home run off Jorge Lopez in the eighth, putting Tampa Bay ahead 2-1. The 27-year-old Gray displayed some impressive power in Triple-A this year, hitting 28 homers in 127 games. His stint in the majors may be brief, however, as Taylor Walls (personal) is due to return from the paternity list Tuesday.

Gray had his contract selected by the Rays on Saturday.

Gray will get his first chance in the majors as Taylor Walls (personal) is away from the team for the next couple of games. Gray has hit 28 home runs with Triple-A Durham across 499 plate appearances in 2023, though he's 27 years old and also had a 32 percent strikeout rate, so it's unclear how his skills will translate to the majors.

Gray, who singled and scored in his only at-bat during a Grapefruit League loss to the Red Sox on Friday, is 3-for-4 with a home run, four RBI and two runs across three spring games.

The 24-year-old showed some nice pop at the High-A and Double-A levels in 2018 and 2019, respectively, racking up 91 extra-base hits (54 doubles, seven triples, 30 home runs) and driving in 133 runs over that span. Gray's batting averages at both stops -- .238 in the former and .225 in the latter -- have been lacking, but he's profiled well during spring training stops with the Rays the last three seasons, lacing four (two doubles, two home runs) of his five hits for extra bases in that sample. Gray is likely ticketed to start the season at Triple-A Durham, and the foundation he's establishing with his early spring work could serve as a launchpad to a successful 2021.